Artwork

Harmony in Flesh Colour and Red

Harmony in Flesh Colour and Red, by James McNeill Whistler, oil, 1869
Harmony in Flesh Colour and Red, by James McNeill Whistler, oil, 1869

Harmony in Flesh Colour and Red is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Overview

Harmony in Flesh Colour and Red is a painting by James McNeill Whistler, created in 1869 using wax crayon. It is part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts three women in red dresses in a room with a pink wall and purple couch. Two women are engaged with each other, while the third faces the viewer, creating a sense of interaction and quiet contemplation.

Technique & Style

Whistler's use of wax crayon achieves a soft, dreamy effect. Loose, expressive strokes capture the intricate details of the dresses and the subtle play of light on the women's faces, emphasizing the fleeting effects of light.

Artist & collection

Portrait of James McNeill Whistler

Artist

James McNeill Whistler

James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.